Tournament Rules & Regulations

Registration

• All teams must be registered prior to the start of the tournament (including submission of proof of insurance).
  
  
• Failure to comply may result in forfeiture of games or expulsion from the event.
  
  
• Player registration must be completed three days prior to the start of the tournament (see “Rosters” below).
  
  
• All rostered players must be born in the calendar year that aligns with their division (e.g. 2013 Division = born in 2013).
  
  
• Underage players (e.g. 2014-born in 2013 division) are eligible if they are not rostered on another team in the tournament.
  
  
• Players may be required to show proof of age upon request by a tournament official.
  
  
• Any team using an ineligible player will forfeit any game(s) played with that player.
  
  

Rosters

• All parents/guardians must complete the online team waiver three days prior to the tournament.
  
  
• Players may appear on only one team’s roster during the event.
  
  
• Maximum roster size: 19 players.
  
  
• Rosters are frozen after the first game.
  
  
• All rostered players (including APs) must play in at least one non-playoff game to be eligible for playoffs.
  
  

Team Insurance

All teams must carry $5,000,000 in liability insurance.
Please email proof of insurance to zwatson@playhockey.com to complete registration.

Jerseys

• Home Team: Dark jerseys
  
  
• Away Team: Light jerseys
  
  
• If a team has only one set, teams must coordinate colors before game time.
  
  

Handshake & MVP Awards

After each game, teams line up on the blue lines for MVP presentations.
Once completed, players may line up for handshakes.

Game Sheets & Statistics

• All player statistics are final once the game is completed.
  
  
• Only team managers or coaches may request corrections (not parents).
  
  
• Requests must be emailed to zwatson@playhockey.com, including:
  
  
  • Team name, division, and game time
    
    
  • Specific correction (e.g., “Goal should be credited to #7 John Doe”)
    
    
• Game result changes must be submitted by both team managers and reviewed by the Tournament Committee.
  
  

Forfeits

Teams failing to appear for a scheduled game may be expelled from the tournament at the discretion of the Disciplinary Committee.
All forfeited games will be recorded as 1–0 with no refund issued.

Zero Tolerance Policy

• Referee abuse will not be tolerated. Offenders will be ejected.
  
  
• One warning will be given before any coach is ejected.
  
  
• Coaches ejected from multiple games will be suspended for the remainder of the tournament.
  
  
• Unsportsmanlike or abusive behavior by spectators will result in removal from the facility.
  
  

Ice Time Allocation

Warm-Up: 4 minutes
Game Length: 3 x 15-minute stop-time periods (time permitting)

• Each game must fit within its 1 hour 15 minute time slot.
  
  
• If time is short, the third period will be adjusted to:
  ½ the remaining time + 2 minutes
  
  
• Playoff games are 3 x 15 minutes (unless delayed schedules require adjustments).
  Timeouts: 1 per team per game (30 seconds).
  
  

Round Robin & Playoff Formats

Formats are subject to change and will be posted at the facility before play begins.
The team with the best record will be designated Home Team in playoff or consolation games.

4 Teams

• Round Robin: All play each other
  
  
• Semifinals: 1 vs 4, 2 vs 3
  
  
• Finals: Winners play for Gold, Losers play for Bronze
  
  

5 Teams

• Round Robin: All play each other
  
  
• Gold Final: 1st place advances
  
  
• Semis: 2 vs 3, 4 vs 5
  
  
• Bronze Final: Loser of Semi 1 vs Winner of Semi 2
  
  

6 Teams

• 3 Round Robin games each
  
  
• Semis: 1 vs 4, 2 vs 3
  
  
• Consolation: 5 vs 6
  
  
• Finals: Winners play for Gold, Losers play for Bronze
  
  

7 Teams

• 4 Round Robin games each
  
  
• Gold Final: 1st place advances
  
  
• Semis: 2 vs 3, 4 vs 5
  
  
• Consolation: 6 vs 7
  
  
• Finals: Winners play for Gold, Losers play for Bronze
  
  

8 Teams

• 2 Pools of 4
  
  
• Semis: 1A vs 2B, 1B vs 2A
  
  
• Consolations: 3A vs 3B, 4A vs 4B
  
  
• Finals: Winners play for Gold, Losers play for Bronze
  
  

9 Teams

• 4 Round Robin games each
  
  
• Gold Final: 1st place advances
  
  
• Semis: 2 vs 3, 4 vs 5
  
  
• Consolations: 6 vs 7, 8 vs 9
  
  
• Finals: Winners play for Gold, Losers play for Bronze
  
  

Tournament Rules

All games follow BC Hockey / PCAHA Rulebooks.

Protests:
No protests will be accepted. Referee decisions are final unless overruled by the Tournament Director.

Tie Breakers

Applies to round robin standings.

When 2 teams are tied:

1. Head-to-head record
   
   
2. Most wins
   
   
3. Fewest goals against
   
   
4. Most goals for
   
   
5. Fewest penalty minutes
   
   
6. Coin toss
   
   

When 3 or more teams are tied:

1. Most wins
   
   
2. Fewest goals against
   
   
3. Most goals for
   
   
4. Fewest penalty minutes
   
   
5. Coin toss
   
   

(Once one team is separated, remaining tied teams revert to the 2-team format.)

Overtime Rules

• Round Robin / Consolation: No overtime
  
  
• Playoffs / Finals:
  
  
  • 5-minute 4-on-4 sudden death
    
    
  • If still tied → 3-man shootout
    
    
  • If still tied → Sudden death shootout (each player must shoot once before repeats)
    
    

Mercy Rule

If a team leads by 5+ goals in the 2nd or 3rd period, running time will apply.
Stop time resumes if the lead drops below 5.

Scoring System

• Win: 2 points
  
  
• Tie: 1 point
  
  
• Loss: 0 points
  
  

Body Checking

• No body checking in all female divisions.
  
  
• No body checking in male 2019–2014 divisions.
  
  
• Body checking permitted only in male 2013, 2012, and 2011 divisions.
  
  

Major Penalties & Suspensions

Checking from Behind

• 2- or 5-minute penalty + 10-minute misconduct
  
  
• If within final 10 minutes of play → +1 game suspension
  
  
• A second 5-minute penalty in the tournament = removal from all remaining games
  
  

Head Contact

• 2- or 4-minute minor: Incidental
  
  
• 5-minute major: Intentional + 10-minute misconduct + 1 game suspension
  
  

Gross / Match Penalties

Immediate ejection from the tournament.

Fighting

Automatic ejection; further suspension may be imposed by the Disciplinary Committee.

Tournament Participation

Tournament Directors reserve the right to remove any team, player, parent, or coach for conduct deemed inappropriate.